NHL Playoffs Buzz: Vilardi practices in noncontact jersey for Jets

Welcome to the NHL Playoff Buzz. The postseason got underway Saturday, and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Winnipeg Jets

Gabriel Vilardi practiced in a noncontact jersey on Sunday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury on March 23.

The injury forced Vilardi, a forward, to miss the Jets’ last 11 games of the regular season, as well as their 5-3 win against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Saturday.

“It’s awesome. It’s great that he’s around,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said following an optional practice. “He has been around here, but again, when I see that other jersey change color, then we’ll start talking about him.”

Vilardi, who remains day to day, finished third on the Jets in goals (27) and fifth in points (61) in 71 games.

Game 2 of the best-of-7 series will be at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS2, ESPN2, FDSNMW). -- Darrin Bauming

Washington Capitals

Logan Thompson practiced fully for a second straight day on Sunday and could return for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, ESPN, SN, TVAS).

Thompson missed the final seven games of the regular season because of an upper-body injury. He was 31-6-6 with a 2.49 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 43 games (42 starts).

“You’ll find out tomorrow night,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said when asked whether Thompson or Charlie Lindgren would start Game 1.

Forward Aliaksei Protas (lower body) skated lightly in a noncontact jersey before practice Sunday. Defenseman Martin Fehervary (lower body) did not practice Saturday or Sunday.

Protas missed the final six games after sustaining a cut to his foot in the third period of a 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4. He finished tied for third on the Capitals with an NHL career-high 66 points (30 goals, 36 assists).

“He's probably our best 5-on-5 player this year," forward Dylan Strome said Saturday. "I don't think that's crazy to say. I think he can do so much for the lineup, and obviously it hurts. Hopefully, we get him back at some point. I don't know when that's going to be."

Fehervary left a 3-1 win against the New York Islanders on April 15 after turning his ankle late in the first period. He returned and finished the game but did not play in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 17.

Washington recalled defenseman Ethan Bear from Hershey of the American Hockey League on Friday. -- Harvey Valentine

Dallas Stars

Miro Heiskanen was upgraded to day to day for the Stars but did not play in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Saturday.

The top-pair defenseman has been out since sustaining a knee injury in a collision with Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone on Jan. 28. He had surgery Feb. 4 and has recently been skating on his own.

The optional morning skate Saturday was the first time Heiskanen was on the ice with the Stars since his injury.

"That's a development," coach Pete DeBoer said. "It's another step. He's being reintegrated into our group. Now, it's at a morning skate so there's no contact. That would probably be the next step, that he's in a full practice with us with full contact, but definitely a step in the right direction from where he's been the last two, 2 1/2 months."

Game 2 of the best-of-7 series is in Dallas on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; Victory+, ESPN, ALT2, TVAS-D, SN360).

Heiskanen had 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) and averaged 25:10 of ice time in 50 games prior to the injury. He also played on the top power-play unit.

"I don't even want to [consider his return] in my head," DeBoer said. “… If he becomes available to play, we obviously know the impact he has on our team, on our game."

The Stars were also without forward Jason Robertson on Saturday. He is week to week with a lower-body injury. -- Taylor Baird

Tampa Bay Lightning

Oliver Bjorkstrand will not play in the Eastern Conference First Round against the Florida Panthers, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Saturday.

The forward sustained a lower-body injury in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Red Wings on April 11 and missed the final three games of the regular season. He had been ruled week to week.

Game 1 of the best-of-7 series is at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, SCRIPPS, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360). Game 7 is scheduled for May 4.

Bjorkstrand had 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 79 regular-season games, including nine points (five goals, four assists) in 18 games since he was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on March 5.

He has been replaced in the lineup by Conor Geekie, who has scored twice in three games since being recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Geekie has 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 52 games this season.

Forwards Luke Glendening (upper body) and Mitchell Chaffee (upper body) were full participants in practice and Cooper said the extra days will help their availability for the best-of-7 series.

"It does nothing but help," Cooper said. "We were a little nervous about having to play that Thursday game on a one-off trip going all the way up to New York, but to get those two more days...it's rest for the guys. If you go all the way, it's two demanding months. Who knows how it's going to play out." -- Corey Long